Brake actuator seal



Oct. 29, 1940. C, SAUZEDE 2,219,566

BRAKE AcTuAToR SEAL Filed June-27, 1959 Patented ocr. 29, 1940 UNITED 'STATES- y.PATENT oFFl'cE This invention relates to hydraulic brake actu.-A

ators and the means for sealing thesame to pr'event leakageof fluid therefgom. l

The primary object of the present inventionis to provide a hydraulic brake actuator with :duid sealing means of the diaphragm type wherein the sealing diaphragm is free from the excessive' fatigue causing distortion 'to which a diaphragm is usually subjecteddn a conventional hydraulic 4 That is, the actuator and seal .are designed with a view to eliminating excessive stretching of the diaphragm duringoperation of brake actuator.

the actuator, and 'to thereby eliminate the stresses which cause fatigue and ultimate destruction offthe diaphragm.

'I'he present invention is particularly adapted for brake actuators of the two-stage pressure type. That .is,-the compressor embodies two pistons of diiferent diameters hich function, rst to displace a large volumeo 'uid during initial operation for `rapidly taking. up allslack and brake shoe clearances with a relatively small brake pedal movement, and'then to apply 'pressurev at an increased leverage ratio. 'I'he present construction is for the purpose' of sealing the large piston with respect to the wall of the-cylinl der in which. it operates and-also to seal it with respect tothe smaller piston, and it is so designed that, when the pistons are moved relatively to the cylinder wall andato each other, the diaphragrn` shifts its position to accommodate such movemen Thatis, rather than stretching, the diaphragm movement of the pistons. 'It has been found 'lm possible, in a two-'stage brake actuator of the type herein contemplated, to -completely eliminate stretching,I and .the diaphragm is actually stretched during the high pressure piston move- ,menti The present invention, however, reduces the amount of stretching to an extentthat it comprises a very small fraction of the length of the diaphragm.

With the above andi other ends in view the invention consists in matters more particularly set with an internal groove 3. A rubber ring 4 yisl mounted inthe groove1 3. Adjacentthe end 5,- of the body I is a screwthreaded portioni A.

as a rolling motion during advance' hollow cylindrical body 1, of a diameter considerably smaller than that of the body I has an| enlarged, annular end portion 3. I'hevportion I is internally threaded at 9 -for engagement with the threaded portion 5.' 5 Slidably mounted in the cylindrical body I is a( piston Ill havinga'central opening II. In the cylindrical body 1 is a piston' I2 having an axial .hollow rod I3 engaged byl a stem I4 on a slidable element I5. 'I'he slidable element I5 is mounted l0 in the central opening in the piston I0 and is engaged byan actuating rod I5. The actuating rod is adapted tobe moved, manually, by pedals or levers such asusually are employed to operate hydraulic brake actuators.

On the actuating rod I6 are two shoulders I1 and I3, and a coil'spring I9 is compressed and num to enter the bores z2 and 2| from the cyan-, 25,

der I whereby it may'fiow to the chamber in body 1 vduring brake actuation or in the reverse dir e'ction when the brakes are released. This ilow of liquid is controlled by a. valve 25 yieldably sup.

' ported by a stem 26-V and spring 21 whereby-it is .8 adapted toseat on v`the piston I2 close the port 2l.

A flexible diaphragm 28 has anouter.annular, metallic reinforcement 29 permanently. secured thereto and clamped against the end 5 of the body I by, tightening the annular portion 8 thereon. 'I'he diaphragm 28 also inner, annular, metallic reinforcement 30 clamped against a shoulder.3l -on the sliding' element l5 by a nut 32. Annular elements 33 and 34, of angle section, are interposed between the reinforcements 29 and 30, respectively, and their pressure apply- A ingzclamping members. 1

f The cylindrical body 1 has an integral annular formation 35 with a port 36 opening thereinto.

A'Ihe port 3B is disposed immediatelyv in advance of4 he forward edge of the piston I2 so that it is c vered thereby during the initial` part of its forwardmovement. In the annular formation M -35 is 'a rubber diaphragm 31# enclosed bya cylindrical body 38 having a central guide 39; A piston 40, for the diaphragm 31, has a bearirg 4I v`slidable on the guide 39.- Air isadmitted to the bearing 4I through a port 42 in the guide 39. but

its seating position on the piston I2.

air is trapped'in the cylindrical body 38 to resiliently oppose movement of the diaphragm.

When the rod I6 is moved from the position shown in Fig. 1 toward that shown in Fig. 2, it causes piston I2 to be moved a distance equal to that necessary to cover the port 36 prior to engagement of the'spring I9 with the end 20 ofthe piston Il). Upon continued movement of the actuator rod I6, the spring .I9 causes the piston IIJ to advance and displace fluid from the body I through the ports 23 and bores 22 and 2I to the body 1, from which it flows through the usual outlet fitting (t6`the brakes (not shown). The fluid thus flowing forces the valve 25 away from When the back pressure against such movement exceeds the pressure exerted by the spring I9, the piston I0 stops moving, the valve 25 seats on the piston I2, and the latter becomes operative to apply pressure on the fluid.

The annular working face of piston I0 is formed concave in cross section so as to receive the diaphragm 28 which itself is convex in cross section, said diaphragm thus providing inner and outer rim portions which aresecured as aforementioned, namely, the inner portion to the slidable member I5 and the out/er portion to the stationary body I. The outer wall of diaphragm 28 intermediate these inner and outer rimportfions and comprising the convex formation thereof ex- .y tends rearwardly along the inner wall of body. I, transversely along and across the concave working face of piston I0, and then forwardly along the outer Wall of the slidable member I5, thereby isolating the hydraulic system on the Working side of piston I0 from the mechanical system on the opposite side of piston Ill. It is 'seen, therefore, that diaphragm 28, being sta tionarily secured at its outer rim portion and secured for slidable movement atits inner rim por# tion, traverses from one of its ends to the other the stationary member I and the relatively movablecpiston or slidable members I0 and I The protraction of lever I6 necessary t close communication between the chambers ahead of pistons I2 and 40, by c-losing the port 36, causes a similar protraction of sliding member` I5 While piston I0 remains stationary, because lthe distance between the working face of piston I2 and the far wall of port 36 is made equal to the axial' length of shoulder I8 on lever I6. During this relative movement between members I Il and I5 the diaphragm 28 is caused to roll along the surfaces of members I, I0 and I5, the diaphragm stretching only to the extent of the minute length of said protraction, said rolling being eiectuated by the complementarily curved surfaces of the concavity of piston I0 and the convexity ofV the diaphragm 28 and by the pressure exerted by the fluid against said diaphragm.' During this time the plane of the inner rim of the diaphragm approaches the plane of the outer rim thereof.

After the piston I2 has closed off the port 36, piston IIJ and member I5 movetogether, member I5 moving vunder the force of the pedal pressure and the piston I0 moving under the force of spring I9.`This united movementof members I0 and I5 in the braking process, during which the brake shoes are initially lodged in their respective drums, continues until the pressure set up in the chamber between the pistons I0 and I2 is suflicient to cause the seating between piston I2 and valve 25 and to cause either the floating or slight retraction of piston IIJ. During this united movement of piston I and member `I5 there is pure rolling of diaphragm 28 along the lmembers I, III and I5, as the planes of the inner and outer rims of the diaphragm come closer together, the fluid pressure ahead of the diaphragm maintaining uniform contact between the adjacent surfaces of the diaphragm and members I, III and I5 during such rolling of the diaphragm.

During the inal setting of the shoes and drums, which is the eifective phase of the braking process, the members I0 and I5 move relatively one tothe other, but such movement is extremely slight, it being equal to the actual distance of the give between the shoe and drum. The distance moved by member I5 relative to piston IIl during this phase is the amount of stretching the diaphragm 28 undergoes which, as has been pointed out, is so slight as to be practically immaterial. The diaphragm, as in the two former phases of braking, rolls along the surfaces of members I,

II) and` I5.

The diaphragm and its arrangement with respect to the braking lstructure proper is highly eiilcient and long-wearing, the diaphragm undergoing substantially no material stretching during the various phases of braking, and' it being adapted for rolling along the surfaces of and with respect to the stationary and movable members with which it is in engagement and by which it is supported, thereby reducing friction to a nullity without the sacrifice of but with a ygain in sealing efficiency.

Although the invention has been described with some detail it is not intended that the detons Within the casing, a' tubularilexible seal comprising a pair of relatively movable rim porltions, one of saidportions being secured to the casing and the other of said portions being secured to one of the pistons, the portion of said seal intermediate its rim portions being in rolling contact with and-forming an annular chamber ahead of'the other piston behind said'rim portions.

2. In an actuator for hydraulic braking having a casing and a pair of relatively movable pistons within the casing, a tubular exible seal comprising a pair of relatively movable rim portions, one oi said portions beingsecured to the casing ahead of one of the pistons and the other of said portions being secured to the other piston, the portion of said seal intermediate its rim portions being in rolling contact with and forming an annular chamber ahead of said first piston behind said rlin portion. y

3. In an actuator for hydraulic braking having a casing and a pair of relatively movable pistons' withinvthe casing, a nexible seal comprising a pair' og concentrically arranged and relatively movable rim portions, the outer of said portions being secured to theV casing andthe inner of said portions being secured to one of the pistons, the portion of said seal intermediate its rim portions being in rolling contact with the casing and pistons and forming, an annular chamber ahead of the other piston.

4. In an'actuator for hydraulic braking having a casing andfa. pair of relatively movable pistons within the casing, a iiexible seal comprising a pair of concentrically arranged and relatively movable rim portions, the outer of said portions being secured to the casing ahead of one of the pistons and the inner of said portions being secured to the other piston, the portion ,pistons within the casing, a tubularA ern'ble seal `comprising a pair of relatively movable rim portions, one of said portions being secured to the casing and the other of said portions being secured to one of the pistons, one wallof said seal intermediate its rim portions forming an -annular chamber vahead of the other piston, the Opposite wall of said seal being ush over substantially its entire area with adjacent walls of the casing and pistons and rollable therealong during', the relaf tive movement ofthe pistons.

6. In an actuator for hydraulic braking having a casing and a pair of relatively movable pis tons within the casing, a flexible seal comprising a pair of concentrically Jarranged and relatively movable rim portions, the outer of said portions being secured to the casing and the inner of said portions being secured to one of the pistons, one wall of said seal intermediate its rim portions forming an annular chamber ahead of the other piston, the opposite Wall of said seal being flush over substantially its entire area withadjacent walls of the casing and pistons and rollable therealong during the relative movement of the pistons.

'7. In an actuator for hydraulic braking having a casing and a pair of relatively movable pistons within the casing, a tubular flexible seal comprising a pair of relatively movable rim portions, one of said portions being secured to the casing ahead of one of the pistons and the other of said portionsbeing secured to the other piston, one wall of said. seal intermediate its rim portions forming an annular chamber ahead of said rst piston, the opposite wall of said seal being ush over substantially its entire area with adjacent walls of the casing and pistons, the rst piston during its forward movement approaching said l rim portion attached to the casing while the other piston during its forward movement carries said other rim portionvforwardly, thereby to cause the rolling of said opposite wall of said seal along said adjacent walls of the casing and pistons.

8. In an actuator for hydraulic bralng having a casing and a pair of relatively movable pistons within the casing, a exible seal comprising a. pair of coneentrically arranged and' relatively movable rim portions, the outer of said portions being secured't the casing ahead of one I of the pistons and the inner of said portions being secured to the other piston, one wall of said' seal intermediate its rim portions forming an annular chamber ahead of said first piston, the opposite wall of said seal being flush over substantially its entire area with adjacent walls-of the casing and pistons, therst piston during its forward movement approaching said outer rim portion while the other piston during its forward movement carries said innerrim' portion forwardly, thereby to cause the rolling of said opposite wall of said seal along said adjacent walls of the casing and pistons.

9. In an actuator for hydraulic -braking having a casing and' a, pair of relatively movable pistons within the casing, one of which pistons having a concave working face, a flexible seal comprising a pair of concentrically arranged and relatively movable rim portions, the outer of said rim portions being secured to the casing and. the inner of saidv rim portions being secured to the other piston, the body of said seal intermediate said rim portions being section to't into the concavity of the iirst piston and to form a chamber therahead.

10. In an actuator for hydraulic braking hav-f ing a casing and a pair of relatively movable having a concave Working face, a flexible seal comprising a pair of concentrically arranged and relatively movable rim portions, the outer of said rim'fportions being secured to the casing ahead of the rst'piston and the inner of said rim portions being secured to the other piston, the body of saidseal intermediate said rim portions formconvex in cross 3' pistons within the casing, one of which pistons 

